Portland needs more cul-de-sacs

I appreciate this provocative take on cul-de-sacs! While I've often reflexively dismissed them as emblematic of auto-centric suburban planning, Sam makes a compelling case for how we might adapt their best qualities to create safer, more livable urban neighborhoods.

It's a powerful alternative vision to the status quo of urban residential streets being treated as car cut-throughs rather than public space for people. Even our neighborhood greenways still allow too much traffic to make them truly comfortable for the most vulnerable users.

I agree with Sam that we need to go much further in prioritizing community livability over driver convenience on residential streets. Superblocks, woonerfs, and pervasive traffic diverters are great models to follow. We should absolutely be striving to create entire residential zones that are blocked to through traffic but fully open to walking and biking.

Of course, this would be a dramatic shift that would undoubtedly face resistance. People are accustomed to being able to drive unimpeded through any neighborhood. But just like we've reallocated street space from cars to other uses, perhaps it's time to start reallocating entire streets. It's the logical extension of the philosophy behind Things like Slow Streets and Stay Healthy Streets during the pandemic.

So while I won't be moving to the suburbs anytime soon, I'm totally on board with stealing their best idea and radically remaking our urban neighborhoods around it!